Here is a review of the DVD, from Bill Long.

Thanks to Bill for his outstanding review.

When I designed this DVD, I wanted to make it very detailed so that you could literally follow along with the video improve your technique. Everyone has certain portions of gripper technique we need to improve.

Here are some common areas of opportunity that I often coach people on in their gripper training technique:

Gripper Placement

Where you place the gripper in your hand is very important. If you get this part of it wrong, then it has the potential to throw off everything else involved in closing the gripper. Closing big grippers is just as much about technique as is having a smooth jump shot in basketball or having a sweet homerun cut in baseball.

Thumb Training

Believe it or not, the thumb is also very important with grippers. The thumb acts as a base or foundation during the gripper close. Many of the guys closing the big grippers have big, meaty thumb pads which helps keep the gripper in position. But those with thinner hands can close big grippers, if you use your thumb properly, which is something I cover in detail in the video.

Last Two Fingers

Recently, I have read comments, messages, and emails from people discussing how much success they are seeing in their gripper training by putting more focus on training their last two fingers which help finish off the sweep of the gripper handles. Tools are sold to help train these fingers specifically, but I also show a couple of drills we have used in the past for last two finger training. One of them, you can make for about $5. The other one uses block weights. Both are easy to implement in your training without having to move a bunch of stuff around in your training week or having to play around with your volume. Most people will be able to just plug them into what they are already doing.

Mindset / Visualization

Right before you squeeze a gripper, do you think, “Man I hope i close this,” or even worse, “I probably won’t get this, but I will try anyway?” If so, I have some Mindset training at the end of the video that will really help you out.

Grippers are by far the most popular form of grip strength. Grippers are not only used by grip enthusiasts, but also strongman competitors, football players, track and field throwers, and the list goes on. With CRUSH, all of them can take their gripper training to another level.

And remember, Grip Training is multi-beneficial. Not only do you improve your hand strength for better performance on the field, but you also improve your hand strength for the rest of your training, and when you improve your numbers in the rest of your training, that will increase your sporting performance even more.

If you’re going to train with grippers, invest in something that will show you how to do it the right way for the maximum benefit.

All the best in your training,

Jedd

• How to Set a Gripper
• Top 10 Gripper Training Mistakes
• Common Gripper Questions – Answered Here
• Block Set Gripper Wild Card Submissions
• Wild Card Qualifier #2 – Block Set Grippers

**IMPORTANT** Be smart about your training. If these are new tactics, work them into your training slowly and don’t go overboard. Everyone is at a different stage of development with their CRUSH training, so be sure to train wisely, and if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Isometrics for Gripper Strength

What we are going to look at today is Isometric and Near-Isometric Work that you can do with your Grippers in order to strengthen the end range of the close, or the Finish.

Training the Finish of the close is important. You can have a strong set, and monster sweep strength, but if you die at the end of the range, then none of that really matters.

After all, the objective is to close the gripper, not sweep it down to 1/4 inch…

What Are Gripper Training Isometrics?

Isometric exercises involve ranges of motion during muscle contraction which are very small or non-existent. They permit maximum exertion over a very short distance (or statically). They build stronger tendons, the ability to fire your CNS more efficiently, and increased time under tension, driving strength gains.

The three types of isometrics used to increase gripper strength are static, short concentric (positive), and short eccentric (negative).

Over-Crushes

Overcrushes (static): Use a gripper that you can close and hold for at least a few seconds. Close the gripper and squeeze as hard and as long as you can.

Take note that the objective here is to squeeze like you are trying to flatten the handles together, using more force that is necessary to hold the handles together.

When you hit 15 seconds, it is time to move up a gripper level. Do no more than 3 of these per hand to prevent over-training.

Don’t just touch the handles together – squeeze with everything you’ve got until the gripper starts to open up. This is not a negative! Doing a negative after a hard overcrush can injure you, so do not try to resist the handles as they open.

Choker Closes

Choker closes (concentric/near isometric): This technique is done with the purpose of shortening the stroke of the gripper handles and focusing just on the last portion of the range. These are also generally done with explosive power in order to train the CNS to power through until the handles touch.

Get a sturdy hose clamp, tape the tops of the gripper handles and clamp your goal gripper to parallel or closer (whatever width you need to close it). Remember to perform explosive singles with this technique. Explode into the close and click the handles as fast as you can.

Wait until you recover and do another one just as hard and as fast as the last. Once the closes start to get a bit slow, or you can’t touch the handles anymore, STOP. PERIOD. This means your hands are fried and going further with this technique will teach you to be slow.

If you can get more than 5 – 7 of these then it is time to open the clamp up slightly wider or use a harder gripper next time. My gripper was too light to be effective for my crush, BUT it was the only one I had with a choker on it, so I used it for the demonstration)

Bounce Force Negatives

Bounce Forced Negatives (BFNs) (eccentric): Use a gripper one level higher than your goal gripper. Use your leg, or off hand to cheat close it and then fight to keep it from opening. When it gets to parallel, use your other hand (or leg) to force it back shut and fight again to keep it shut. Repeat one more time when it gets to parallel. That’s one set of 3. Do no more than 2 sets.

Also, this will be a bigger gripper than you are used to and if it has sharp knurling you need to not just let it spring open after the last negative gets to parallel, or you could lose some skin. Open it slowly.

Conclusion

These three gripper techniques are much more demanding on the CNS and the soft tissues of the hand, so we advise to only perform one of these gripper training techniques per workout. In other words, don’t do three sets of over-crushes, followed by some BNF’s and top it off with some choker work. That is a sure-fire way to make your progress go backwards, or worse yet, get you hurt.

Also, alternate these high-intensity techniques for best results. Each movement trains the muscles, tendons, and CNS in a slightly different way. To get the most out of these techniques, you can incorporate one of them at a time on a regular basis and see how your Crush improves, then try the next technique.

Of course, these are advanced gripper training techniques. If you don’t already have a solid grip on the basics of gripper training, then you might not be ready for these techniques.

In that case, check out my Gripper Training DVD, CRUSH, Total Gripper Domination.

CRUSH will show you how to develop a good base of training with your grippers, a solid foundation on which to build upon for the future.

There’s no reason why you, yourself, can not one day certify on Grippers. You just need the right information to get you going in the right direction.

Start out on the right foot with the solid information you need to excel with Grippers, which you will get in CRUSH.

All the best in your training,

Jedd

• Wild Card Qualifier #2 – Block Set Grippers
• DVD Review: CRUSH – Total Gripper Domination
• How to Set a Gripper
• Top 10 Gripper Training Mistakes
• North American Grip Sport National Championship 2011

Hello DIESELS. Last November, I did an interview with Rick Kaselj when I first heard about his program, Muscle Imbalances Revealed – Upper Body Edition, but I totally forgot about it until just now.

Rick and I released Fixing Elbow Pain this week, so I thought I would re-post the interview here. Rick really knows his stuff about recovering from injuries without surgery, pills, and endless appointments, so check it out below.

INTERVIEW ORIGINALLY POSTED NOVEMBER 11, 2011

Today I have an interview with Rick Kaselj of ExercisesforInjuries.com.

I had heard Rick was taking interviews this week in conjunction with the release of his product, Muscle Imbalances Revealed – Upper Body Edition this week. I immediately contacted Rick about an interview to go over Medial and Lateral Epicondylitis (Golfer’s and Tennis Elbow), how to prevent them, and how to heal from them. You would not believe the number of questions I get about how to deal with these conditions and many others for the forearm from both Grip and Strongman Trainees. Speaking from experience, I know how bad these conditions can be because I have suffered from them many times over the years. In fact, when i first started doing Strongman Training, my medial epicondyles were so inflamed that I could not make it through a workout without ibuprofen super-doses.

Without further ado, please check out what Rick has to say about lower arm health.

Jedd: Rick, your name has been tossed around by some of the biggest names in the business. Your products have really proven to be game changers for Personal Trainers, Therapists, and Strength Coaches by using an active approach to addressing injuries and correcting imbalances. I think your methods are perfect for the Diesel Universe as well because we are always aiming to perform at a high level whether we are working toward world class grip strength, competing in strongman or powerlifting, or just trying to be as strong as possible. I truly feel your experience is going to help a lot of my readers, so thank you for taking the time to do this interview.

Rick: Thanks for the kind words. I am glad what I have to say has been able to help so many people.

Very cool to be asked to share a few things with the Diesel Universe.

A few days back I was watching some videos on your blog and my 4 year old son asked, “Can you do that, dad?”

I had to say, “No.”

He then asked, ”Can I do that?”

“Listen to what Jedd and the Diesel Crew have to say and you can.”

Not sure how the wife will like it if my son starts bending frying pans.

Okay, Jedd, hit me with your questions.

Jedd: Rick, a lot of the guys who come to my site engage in non-conventional training, especially odd object lifting such as atlas stones, natural stones, kegs, sandbags and more. One common result is inflammation of the elbow near the medial epicondyle. What is one thing my guys can do to prevent this from happening when time on the implements is so important to success?

Rick: Check out below…

What is Medial Epicondylitis (ME)?

If we look at medial epicondylitis, it is an issue with the wrist flexors (wrist curling) and some people call it “golfer’s elbow”.

Epicondylitis begins as an inflammation of the tendons but can progress to the breakdown of the tendons.

Big things that leads to ME is repeated flexion, pronation (from palm up to palm down), and valgus stress to the elbow (upper arm does not move and the forearm moves away from the body). Can you already think about the things that can be leading to this?

Okay, enough of the science mumbo jumbo. I know you are thinking, what can I do about it.

What can I do about Medial Epicondylitis?

Look at What is Causing the Problem – In your workouts are you doing to much pulling movements or bending movements (bending a bar).

Look at Your Movements – Are you using your wrist and forearms way to much when you should be using your back, legs and chest to do the movement or exercise.

Are You Putting too Much Stress on the Inside of Your Elbow – Look at ripping apart movements. For example, breaking chains.

Take a Break From the Problem – I would never say stop something but you might want to take a break from something. If you have been doing a ton of plate grip work or weighted rope pulls, maybe move over to un-weighted rope and sand bag challenges.

Massage It Out – After your workout, take some time to self-massage. You get that pump in your muscle, especially in your forearms. Take some time to rub or massage the wrist flexors to relax the muscle, help with recovery and move it from a shortened position (tight and pulling on the injury), to a relaxed one (no stress on the injury). (Jedd’s Note – This is a FANTASTIC Idea – Thanks Rick!)

Get Some Manual Therapy – There are all kinds of techniques out there, but getting manual therapy done has a lot research that supports it.

Let’s get to the next question because I know you are going to ask me about exercises to do and stretching.

Jedd: Rick, in years past, I’ve pushed too hard and developed what is referred to as tennis elbow. I get no fewer than 20 emails per year asking about how to get rid of this condition. In your experience, what is the best way to fend this condition off and if it is developed, how to get rid of it?

Rick: See below…

What is Lateral Epicondylitis (LE)?

Let me just step back and explain a few things. So, tennis elbow is called lateral epicondylitis and it was first talked about in 1882 (Wow) where they called it “lawn tennis elbow” and occurs about 10 times more frequently than ME.

Just like medial epicondylitis, it can be caused by what you do for work or from sport.

If we look at what movements causes it, we can see what unconventional strength training can lead to it.

LE occurs when performing activities involving repeated supination and pronation (rotation of the hand from palm up to palm down and vise versa) with the elbow extended (straight).

Now to what you can do about it.

What Can You do About Lateral Epicondylitis (LE)?

Some of this overlaps with ME.

Look at What is Causing the Problem – In your workouts are you doing to much kettlebell swings, pinch grip work, keg lifting or dumbbell work.

Watch Wide Grip Work – Grabbing things like a glob and a blob put the hand into a wide grip, that puts more stress on the outer part of the elbow.

Look at Your Technique – This is an extension of above. Are you using your wrists and elbows too much when your legs, back and shoulder should be doing the bulk of the work.

Tendon Strengthening Exercises – There is a lot of research backing up eccentric training for both ME and LE in order to help strengthen the tendons.

You focus on the eccentric movement with a light weight (1 to 2 pounds / maybe more for the Diesel Universe) doing three sets of 15 repetitions, three times per day where you focus on the eccentric movement of wrist flexion (ME) or wrist extension (LE).

It is not a hard exercise but it targets the problem. The negative is it could irritate things more which is normal.

I would also recommend the taking a break from the problem, self massage and manual therapy, like I mentioned above.

Jedd: Rick, this has been outstanding information so far. I would be remiss if I did not touch on one other thing. A lot of my readers engage in feats of strength like steel bending, chain breaking, and other forms of training that are hard on the fingers. What advice to you have for us all in the Grip and Bending Community for keeping our fingers healthy, especially the smaller connective tissues? (Sadly, two years ago I jammed my left pinky finger playing basketball and it still has lingering issues, so any help here is appreciated)

Rick: I’ve got to say this… So, you lift, bend, grip, pinch and throw crazy stuff but the thing that injured your finger was a 22 oz basketball. Okay.

We got to start off with the wording. “Jammed finger” does not sound manly.

You really need to say, PIP injury or proximal interphalangeal injury.

Now that sounds cool.

Here are a few things that I can recommend:

• Use taping or chalk to help prevent finger injuries when appropriate
• If you jam it, keep working on the movement of the joint
• Splinting or buddy-taping with another finger is good for less than 2 weeks
• If there is deformity in the joint, get it looked at and you may need to get some hand therapy to speed up recovery

Big thing with finger injuries, if they are not dealt with right after injury, it’s harder to fix them later on.

Jedd: Rick, again, thanks for taking some time for us. This info is going to help a lot of people, myself included. How can we find out more about addressing issues such as these, as well as other issues some of my guys might need help with, such as banged up shoulders, tweaked biceps, and possibly pec injuries? I’ve got a very broad audience here and I know many of them have underlying issues they are training through and around on a weekly basis?

Rick: Okay, I will get to answering your question, just give me one minute.

I never answered the stretching thing for LE and ME. I would do it but it would not be my focus. I would focus on the self-massage, taking a break from things that make it worse, eccentric exercise program and getting manual therapy work. Some times with the stretching, you could be making things worse, compared to better.

One more thing that I’ve got to say, if things do not get better or keep getting worse with your ME and LE, get it looked at by someone to rule out that it could be something else.

Now to my last thing. Jedd, let me wrap up with a few reference that people can refer to if they want more information on what I chatted about above.

I know this is dorky but there may be a few of your readers that want more detailed scientific info:

Freiberg A. (2007). Management of proximal interphalangeal joint injuries. Can J Plast Surg. 2007 Winter;15(4):199-203. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19554177

Hudes K. (2011). Conservative management of a case of medial epicondylosis in a recreational squash player. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2011 Mar;55(1):26-31. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21403779

Walz DM, Newman JS, Konin GP, Ross G. (2010). Epicondylitis: pathogenesis, imaging, and treatment. Radiographics. 2010 Jan;30(1):167-84. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20083592

Jedd: Thanks for the solid references, Rick, and the awesome information in the interview.

Guys, if you would like to find out more information about preventing and recuperating from upper body imbalances, you’ve got to check out Rick’s Muscle Imbalances Revealed – Upper Body Edition. Give this thing a try, especially if you have lingering issues, have noticed things feeling differently in your upper body lifts, or if what you have been trying has not been working in your efforts to get rid of issues.

Thanks again to Rick Kaselj!

All the best in your training.

Jedd

Similar Posts:

• Freaky Forearm Training for Baseball
• 3 Keys to Building Muscle the Right Way
• Fixing Forearm Pain – The New RICE
• Grip Considerations for Lifting the Husafell Stone
• Interview with Mike Fitch

Today, I received the official announcement from David Horne on the 2012 Worlds Strongest Hands Series, the 3rd annual installment. Below is the information regarding specifics of the contest.

Information on 2012 Worlds Strongest Hands

Date: Saturday 18 August, 2012
The 2012 WSH is a one-leg event this year. In 2010, it was 4 legs, and in 2011 it was 3 legs, but with the proximity to the Worlds Strongest Hands Gathering and other scheduling issues, it was decided to make it a one-leg event only.

Events:
1. One Hand Vulcan Gripper (V2) – 20mm block close
2. Wrist Developer
3. Adjustable Thick Bar (one hand) – GripTopz
4. Stub Lift (one hand) – GripTopz

Classes: Open, Women’s and 93k class.

We recently added a variety of weight classes to the world grip sport rankings for the men. In past years, the split between the men’s class happened at the 82.5-kg mark, but this year, the divider will take place at 93-kg.

Venue: All around the world.

I will be holding my leg in Wyalusing, PA. As more locations in North America are confirmed, I will do my best to post them here. For sure, there will be one venue in Wooster, Ohio, and in past years there have been venues to compete in Minnesota, Michigan, and Arizona. I ahve also been told that there might be a competing venue in New England.

Entrance fee: £20 GBP ($32 dollars, 25 euro)

Trophies: There will be trophies for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd in each class.

Rules: Video to follow

All of the individual contests within Worlds Strongest Hands take place on the very same day. However, some countries participate earlier than others due to their location on the globe. In order to allow no unfair advantages, results are not shared between promoters. All results are sent to David Horne for tabulation and then he puts out the results after the contest.

As I receive more information, I will post it here on this thread.

Additional Information on Worlds Strongest Hands

I get a lot of questions about Worlds Strongest Hands from people who want to know more about the event and the equipment used in the competition, so I want to put them here as they come in, to make this a good post to reference.

I know some questions are more common than others, so I will go ahead and put them down right now, but if you have additional questions, post them in the comments section and I will add them in and update the post.

What is the Vulcan or V2 Gripper?

This is a large, steel gripper, sold by David Horne / World of Grip, with a straight coil spring, that can be adjusted across various strength levels. The gripper is used similarly to a Torsion Spring Gripper, first setting it, then swiping a 30-mm block, and finally closing the handles of the Gripper together.

It was originally called the Vulcan Gripper, but the design was re-worked for a cleaner look and the spread between the handles was increased, so the ones that are sold now are called V2, as in Vulcan 2 or Version 2.

What is the Wrist Developer?

Wrist Developer

This is another steel device that is manufactured by David Horne / World of Grip, with a mobile straight coil spring that can be adjusted for various strength levels.

What is a 20-mm Setting Block?

Think of the 20-mm as a gauge that is used with Grippers. For instance, the gauge in the Two Hands Pinch is a horizontal bar that is set at 16.5 inches in height that must be touched with the loading bar of the Euro Pinch Device. In Grippers, we use the setting block to make sure everyone is being judged with the same set width. So, the athlete is allowed to set the handles, and then he/she must pass the 20-mm block between the handles to show a legal set depth. This effectively takes hand size limitations out of the equation with Gripper Contests, because everyone is permitted to get an advantageous set, by pre-positioning the handles with the off-hand, then they pass the block through, and then they make the attempt at the close.

What are the Grip Topz?

The Grip Topz are another series of Griplements from David Horne / World of Grip. They are all used with the same base, which serves as the loading pin for weights. Then, on top of the loading pin base, attachments are hooked and gripped by the competitor. There are many different Grip Topz attachments that test a variety of hand strength disciplines. They are very handy for accomplishing a wide range of Grip Training challenges and goals.

The Grip Topz events utilize the same gauge that is used in the Euro Pinch Two Hands Pinch Lift event, which is set at 16.5 inches.

What is the Adjustable Thick Bar?

The Adjustable Thick Bar is a new item in the Grip Topz series, which is a thick bar handle. It is has multiple thick handles that will be used based upon the hand size of the competitor. This event tests Open Hand Strength on a round device. So it is not pure support strength (static finger strength), but rather a hybrid challenge combining support and thumb strength.

David Horne has a video demonstrating this lift:

What is the Stub Lift?

The Stub Lift is one of the items from the first Grip Topz series which was used in last year’s Worlds Strongest Hands 2011. The Stub Lift is a steel bar which juts out of a flat steel plate, which you must grip with your index finger and thumb and try to lift. This event tests Key Pinch, and surprisingly enough hits the wrist a bit as well.

As time allows, I will shoot some videos showing the various pieces of equipment in action, so that you can see them and understand them even better.

How to Buy Vulcan V2′s & Wrist Developers:

Many people have written in asking about when I would be getting more Vulcan V2′s, Wrist Developers, etc.

Now that the contest is announced and the events are official, I would like to know who is interested in getting a Vulcan V2 or Wrist Developer. Please leave a comment below or email me.

Wrist Developer Training Info: I released a DVD on how to train with the Wrist Developer in February. It has gotten lots of good feedback.

From: Frank Deluca: “Jedd – I watched the vid today and it is awesome. This is one of your best instructional videos in my opinion and I have bought many of yours. Nice job.”

From: Karl M. Skjelvik: “Great stuff, Jedd. I learned a lot on technique and different ways to train with the WD. Tomorrow is a training day, and I’m gonna try it out.”

If you want to kick ass in World’s Strongest Hands in the Wrist Developer, or if you simply want to improve how you perform on the WD in your own training, then this is the DVD for you – pick it up today by clicking the image below.

Again, if you need any other information, please leave a comment below, or feel free to email me or hit me up through Facebook or Twitter.

All the best in your training,

Jedd

Crank Your Wrist Strength Up a Notch with the Wrist Developer DVD

Similar Posts:

• Vulcan V2 Grippers from David Horne / World of Grip
• World’s Strongest Hands Leg 3 Results
• World’s Strongest Hands Series
• World’s Strongest Hands Leg 3
• Current Training and Upcoming Plans

Today I am going to tell you how I incorporate variety in order to keep my training positive and to keep seeing progress. Maybe this will help you out in your training as well.

For me, my training is heavily based around momentum. What I mean by that is when I have a good day in the gym, I can generally pick up some momentum and have several good workout days ina row.

Momentum, baby!

Sometimes, when the PR Train is running full steam, it can even lead to back-to-back weeks of good workouts in the gym, seeing lots of progress toward where I want to be and I log a lot of PR’s.

If you are not familiar with that term, PR stands for Personal Record. Some people refer to PB’s or Personal Bests. Either way, it means you hit a lift, a feat, or a goal that you never were able to accomplish before.

It might not be the best performance in the world or in your weight class, but it does mean that you out-performed anything you’ve done in the past – and that means it is something you can be proud of.

When you incorporate variety in your training, you are giving yourself the opportunity to set more PR’s.

The way I do this in my training is I constantly find new things to train for, in order to push myself, set new PR’s and keep momentum going in my training.

I did this recently with something called a 56-lb Highland Games Throwing Weight. If you are not familiar with the highland Games, then check out this article by world-class Highland Games competitor, Adriane Blewitt – Introduction to the Highland Games.

In my opinion, one of the coolest events in Highland Games is the 56-lb Throw for Height, and recently one of my friends in Grip Strength, Ben Edwards, put up his 56-lb Weight up for sale. This summer, when the weather is better, I fully plan on going out and practicing some throws for height, but while the ground is still soggy from all of the Spring Rain, I decided I would train to lift it like a Block Weight first.

Add another chapter to Block Weight Lifting: Highland Games Throwing Weights with Handles Attached.

If you’re curious about the measurements of this griplement, it is roughly 6 inches across the flat portion at the top (kind of tough to measure) and about 6.5 inches across the flat base (much easier to measure).

My training success is driven by PR’s. I love setting them. I love lifting new things I never could before. When I am setting new PR’s, it keeps me energized for workouts and can help me get out of ruts when my training is stagnant.

Take note – this is not just something that only I do and it’s not something that works for just Grip Guys. Even AJ Roberts, one of the strongest men in the world and owner of several bench press records does the same thing in his training from time to time. He told me about it in the interview I did with him around this time last year. Put your email address in the box below and you’ll get an email to download it so you can listen to it yourself.

When we interviewed Paul Knight, one of the guys with the best crushing grips in the world, on a recent episode of Grip Strength Radio he said this is one of the concepts that has helped him to build his amazing crushing grip strength, by regularly posing new challenges for himself to try to attain.

Bottom line -this concept works.

In encourage you too look for ways you can implement variety in your training. By adding some slight variety to your training, you can accomplish more individual PR’s which can keep you excited about training and keep the results coming.

To lots of PR’s coming our way,

Jedd

Similar Posts:

• Introduction to the Highland Games
• Productive Variety: Why I Tear Cards
• Mighty Mitts and Thick Bar Training
• Jedd’s Training Update – Fire Walk with Me
• Row Variations for a Big Back and Monster Grip